Illinois, U.S. Senate
2008 Sen.
Vote for winner in 2002: 60 percent
The expanded Democratic Senate majority that will convene the 111th Congress next January will include Durbin, the No. 2-ranking Majority Whip who
’
s a lock for a third term against Republican physician Steve Sauerberg. Durbin wouldn
’
t have been seriously challenged even if
Race Information
- Incumbent: Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D
- First Elected: 1996 (2nd term)
- Last Elected: 2002 (60.33%)
- Incumbent Status: Running for re-election
- Challengers: Steve Sauerberg, R; Kathy Cummings, GREEN; Larry Stafford, LIBERT; Chad Koppie, CNSTP
- Race Forecast: Safe Democrat
State Information
- U.S. Senate Delegation: 2 Democrats
- U.S. House Delegation: 11 Democrats, 7 Republicans
- Illinois's Other Senator
- VACANT Sen. Barack Obama-D resigned from office effective Nov. 16, 2008.
- First Elected: 2004 (1st term)
- Last Elected: 2004 (69.97%)
- State Offices
- Governor: Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, D
- First Elected: 2002 (2nd term)
- State House Control: Democratic
- State Senate Control: Democratic
- Demographics (2000 census)
- Population (2005):12,763,371
- Under 18:26.1%
- Over 65:12.1%
- Non-Hispanic White:67.8%
- Black:14.9%
- Hispanic:12.3%
- Asian:3.4%
- American Indian:0.1%
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander:0.0%
- Median Household Income: 46,590
- Median Household Income Rank: 13
| Year | Election | Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | general | Richard Durbin (D) | 3,616,210 | 67.8% |
| Steve Sauerberg (R) | 1,520,896 | 28.5% | ||
| Kathy Cummings (GREEN) | 119,147 | 2.2% | ||
| Larry Stafford (LIBERT) | 50,228 | 0.9% | ||
| Chad Koppie (CNSTP) | 24,061 | 0.4% | ||
| 2002 | general | Richard Durbin (D) | 2,103,766 | 60.3% |
| Jim Durkin (R) | 1,325,703 | 38% | ||
| Steven Burgauer (LIBERT) | 57,382 | 1.6% | ||
| 1996 | general | Richard J. Durbin (D) | 2,384,028 | 56.1% |
| Al Salvi (R) | 1,728,824 | 40.7% | ||
| Steven H. Perry (REF) | 61,023 | 1.4% | ||
| Robin J. Miller (LIBERT) | 41,218 | 1% | ||
| Chad Koppie (USTAX) | 17,563 | 0.4% | ||
| James E. Davis (NL) | 13,838 | 0.3% | ||
| Steve Dahl (Write-In) | 4,222 | 0.1% | ||
| Robert A. Rudner (Write-In) | 6 | |||
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Independent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | John Kerry: 55% | George W. Bush: 44% | |
| 2000 | Al Gore: 55% | George W. Bush: 43% | |
| 1996 | Bill Clinton: 54% | Robert Dole: 37% | |
| 1992 | Bill Clinton: 49% | George H. W. Bush: 34% |
Campaign Finance Details for the 2008 Race
| Filers | Through | Total Receipts | Total Disbursements | Total From PACs | Total From Individuals | Ending Cash | Debts Owed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SKINNER, NANCY (D) | December 31, 2006 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| HYNES, DANIEL W (D) | December 31, 2006 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $76,959.00 | $246,569.00 |
| DURBIN, RICHARD J (D) | November 24, 2008 | $8,103,424.00 | $7,899,757.00 | $101,600.00 | $5,490,283.00 | $3,138,979.00 | $0 |
| OBERWEIS, JAMES D (R) | January 13, 2007 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| QUINN, PAT (D) | September 30, 2008 | $21,295.00 | $21,510.00 | $0 | $14,295.00 | $1,414.00 | $22,600.00 |
| KEYES, ALAN L (R) | September 30, 2008 | $244,540.00 | $262,170.00 | $0 | $244,540.00 | $2,250.00 | $15,909.00 |
| OBAMA, BARACK (D) | September 30, 2008 | $113,485.00 | $509,096.00 | $0 | $46,999.00 | $120,539.00 | $8,033.00 |
| HULL, MARSON BLAIR (D) | September 30, 2008 | $7,121.00 | $16,934.00 | $0 | $0 | $162,385.00 | $233,890.00 |
| CHICO, GERY J (D) | September 30, 2008 | $0 | $30.00 | $0 | $0 | $29,146.00 | $0 |
| SAUERBERG, STEVEN KENNETH (R) | November 24, 2008 | $2,055,524.00 | $1,035,568.00 | $4,000.00 | $696,160.00 | $1,490,327.00 | $1,313,045.00 |
| PSAK, MICHAEL J (R) | January 17, 2008 | $11,517.00 | $3,966.00 | $0 | $11,517.00 | $748.00 | $0 |
